Zipper slide retainer

ABSTRACT

A ZIPPER SLIDE RETAINER FOR HOLDING THE SLIDE OF A ZIPPER IN CONTACT WITH THE STATIONARY END OF A SEPARABLE ZIPPER. THE STATIONARY END OF THE ZIPPER IS PROVIDED WITH A MAGNETIC MEMBER OR DEPRESSION WHICH COOPERATES WITH A MAG-   NETIC MEMBER OR DETENT ON THE ZIPPER SLIDE TO RETAIN THE SLIDE IN CONTACT WITH THE STATIONARY END.

June 8, 1971 N. G. HoRwn-T ZIPPER SLIDE RETAINER Filed Sept. 2, 1969 N NH.' ...JMS l N United States Patent O 3,583,041 ZIPPER SLIDE RETAINERNathan G. Horwitt, 368 Stockbridge Road, Lenox, Mass. 01240 Filed Sept.2, 1969, Ser. No. 854,601 Int. Cl. A44b 19/38 U.S. Cl. Ztl- 205.11 1Claim ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A zipper slide retainer for holding theslide of a zipper in contact with the stationary end of a separablezipper. The stationary end of the zipper is provided with a magneticmember or depression which cooperates with a magnetie member or detenton the zipper slide to retain the slide in contact with the stationaryend.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to zippers, and moreparticularly, to separable zippers having means for retaining the slidein contact with the stationary end of the zipper when the zipper isopened.

As is well known to those skilled in the zipper art, there are basicallytwo types of zippers. One type, such as a skirt or trouser type, has theends of the zipper firmly secured together, providing only a partialopening in the garment. The other type, one that is usually found injackets and the like, is one in which the ends can be separated, suchthat the opening of the garment will be complete, aiding in its removal.Also, as is well known, the separable type of zippers lead to muchfrustration, especially with young people, because the slide of thezipper will not remain in contact with the xed or stationary end whenthe zipper is opened.

It has long been recognized as desirable to provide some means forretaining the slide in contact with the stationary end of the zipperwhen it is opened, readily allowing `the slide to be engaged with theteeth when closed to allow the zipper to be actuated.

Therefore, it is one object of this invention to provide a separabletype of zipper in which the slide is provided with means to hold it incontact with -the stationary end of the zipper.

A further object of this invention is to provide a separable type zipperin which the slide member is provided with means cooperating with thestationary end of the zipjper to hold the slide in contact with thestationary end of the zipper.

Yet another object of this invention is -to provide a separable typezipper in Which the slide member is provided with magnetic means whichcooperates with a magnetic member on the stationary end to securely holdthe slide in contact with the stationary end.

SUMMARY O-F THE INVEN'IIION Briey, in one form, this invention relatesto a zipper slide retainer in which the slide member of a separable typezipper is provided with means which cooperate with means on thestationary end of the zipper to hold the slide securely in contact withthe stationary end of the zipper when it is in its open or separatedcondition.

The invention which is sought to be protected will be clearly pointedout and distinctly claimed in the claims appended hereto. However, it isbelieved that this invention, and the manner in which its objects andadvantages are obtained, as well as other objects and advantagesthereof, will be better understood from the following detaileddescription of the preferred embodiments thereof, especially whenconsidered in the light of the accompanyling drawing.

3,583,041 Patented June 8, 1971 lCC FIG. l is a plan view of a separabletype zipper showing one form of slide retainer according to a preferredembodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan View similar to FIG. 1, showing the slide in Contactwith the stationary end;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the lines 3 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG, 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3, showing another form ofslide retainer according to this invention; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the invention showing theslide retainer of FIG. 1 in greater detail.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The zipper slide retainer ofthis invention comprises means associated with the slide of a separablezipper which will cooperate with the xed or stationary end of the zipperto removably secure the slide to the stationary end when the zipper isin the separated or opened position. The present preferred embodimentsof this invention are shown in the drawing, to which reference Will nowbe made for a more complete description thereof, and wherein likereference numerals are used to indicate like parts throughout theseveral views.

Referring first to FIGS. l-3 and 5, one preferred embodiment is shown inconnection with a separable type zipper 10, having the separate sideelements or members 12 and 14, each of which include a plurality ofteeth 15, as shown. A slide member or fastener 16 is provided forclosing and opening the zipper 10 in a manner well understood in theart. Side element 12 is provided with an end member E18, while the sideelement 14 is provided with the end member 20. As is well understood, inseparable type zippers, end member 18 is generally considered the fixedor stationary end, while end 20 is the removable end. A substantiallyU-shaped member 22 is secured to end 18, and as is clearly shown in FIG.5, a U-shaped member 22 is secured to or formed integral with thestationary end 18. As is understood, the end 20 slides into and out ofthe open portion of the U-shaped connecting member 22 and slide 16, asis shown by the arrows in FIG. 5.

In order to securely hold the slide 16 in contact with the stationaryend 18 of the zipper 10, means are provided on slide 16 and end 18 whichcooperate to removably secure these members together when the zipper isopened. In FIGS. 1-3 and 5, the means is shown in the form of a magneticmember or insert 24 mounted in slide 16. The end 18 may be made ofmagnetic material, or it may be provided with a magnetic member orinsert 26, as indicated in FIGS. 1-3 and 5. Obviously, the magneticmembers may be in both the end 18 and the slide 16, or a magnet may beplaced in either, with magnetic material provided in the other. Thus, 24may be a magnet While 26 is magnetic material, or 24 could be magneticmaterial while 26 is a magnet. All that is necessary is that the slide16 be attracted to and held in contact with the end 18 when the zipper10 is open.

Instead of magnets and magnetic material, other means can be provided tosecure the slide 16 and stationary end 18 in contact when the zipper 10is open. One such means is shown in FIG. 4. As is shown in FIG. 4, thestationary end 18 is provided with an opening or depression 30 whileslide 16 is provided with a spring pressed detent 132 having a springVmember 34. As will be understood,

when the slide 16 is pulled down against the U-shaped member 22 thedetent 32 will engage the depression 30. Spring 34 will rmly press thedetent 32 into depression 30, holding slide 16' securely in contact withthe stationary end 18. Of course, it will be obvious that the depressioncould be on the slide member 16 while the detent is on the stationaryend 18', if desired.

While there has been shown and described the present preferredembodiments of this invention, it will be apparent to those skilled inthis art that various structural changes may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed as new and which it is desired to secure by LettersPatent of the United States is:

1. A separable zipper having a Zipper slide retainer for holding theslide in contact with the separable stationary end of the zippercomprising:

a separable zipper having a stationary, separable end member,

longitudinally extending element on said end member,

a movable slide member for opening and closing the zipper anddimensioned to slidably fit over said extending element,

retaining means on said separable end member and 0n said movable slidemember cooperating to removably secure said movable slide member to saidseparable end member when the zipper is separated, said retaining meansincluding magnetic means on the ex- References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 2,157,381 5/1939 Carlile 24-205.11

3,210,819 lO/1965 Jensen 24-205.11F

3,271,832 9/1966 Yankers 2li-205.11

FOREIGN PATENTS 296,378 11/1928 Great Britain 24205.11

504,357 4/ 1939 Great Britain 2li-205.11

BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner

